Time Boost Close is a setting that stops background apps from running when your phone screen is off

Time Boost Close (sometimes called "App Standby Bucket" or similar names depending on your phone brand) is a power-saving feature that automatically stops apps from using battery and data when you are not actively using them. Instead of letting every app run in the background all the time, your phone groups apps into categories based on how often you use them, then restricts what they can do when the screen is dark.

The feature exists because background apps drain your battery even when you think your phone is asleep. An app checking for messages, refreshing news, or tracking your location uses power constantly. Time Boost Close cuts that drain by pausing apps you have not opened recently. The trade-off is that those apps may not send you notifications as quickly, or they may not update their information until you open them again.

Key Takeaways

  • Time Boost Close groups your apps by how often you use them and restricts background activity for apps you rarely open.
  • Apps in restricted categories may take longer to send notifications or update information, but your battery lasts longer.
  • You can usually see which apps are restricted and move frequently-used apps to a less-restricted category if notifications matter to you.
  • The exact name and location of this setting varies by phone brand — Samsung, Google, and Apple each call it something different.

How Time Boost Close actually works on your phone

When you turn on Time Boost Close (or when it is on by default), your phone watches which apps you open and how often. Apps you use every day go into one category. Apps you use once a week go into another. Apps you have not opened in months go into a fourth. Each category has different rules about what the app can do in the background.

An app in the "rarely used" category cannot wake up your phone to send a notification, cannot refresh its data, and cannot use location services. It just sits dormant until you open it. An app in the "frequently used" category can do almost everything it normally would. The middle categories fall somewhere in between — they might refresh data once an hour instead of constantly, or they might send notifications but not use location.

Your phone recalculates these categories regularly. If you start opening an app every day, it moves up to a less-restricted bucket. If you stop opening an app for weeks, it moves down to a more-restricted one. You do not have to do anything — the phone handles the sorting automatically.

Where to find and adjust Time Boost Close on different phones

The name and location of this setting depends on which phone you own. On Samsung phones, it is usually called "Adaptive Battery" or "Power Saving Mode" and lives in Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery. On Google Pixel phones, it appears as "Adaptive Battery" in Settings > Battery > Battery Saver. On iPhones, Apple calls it "Low Power Mode" or "App Refresh" restrictions, found in Settings > Battery Health or Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Once you find the setting, you can usually see a list of which apps are currently restricted. If an app is restricted and you want it to send notifications faster, you can move it to an unrestricted category or turn off the restriction for just that app. This is useful for messaging apps, calendar apps, or anything else where you need real-time alerts. Moving an app out of restriction will use more battery, so only do this for apps where the notifications actually matter to you.

The battery savings versus notification trade-off

Turning on Time Boost Close can extend your battery life by several hours, depending on how many apps you have installed and how aggressively the setting restricts them. The exact savings vary — some people see a 10 percent improvement, others see 30 percent or more. It depends on which apps you use, how many are trying to run in the background, and how restrictive your phone's default categories are.

The cost is that some apps will not notify you as quickly. A messaging app might take five minutes to show you a new message instead of showing it when ready. A weather app might not update until you open it. A fitness app might not record background activity as accurately. For most people, this trade-off is worth it — you can always open an app manually to check for updates. But if you rely on when ready notifications from a specific app, you should move that app to an unrestricted category.

When Time Boost Close is already on by default

Most modern phones have some version of Time Boost Close turned on automatically. You do not have to enable it yourself. If your phone is more than two or three years old, the feature may not exist at all, or it may be called something completely different.

If you want to turn it off — for example, because you need all your apps to send notifications when ready — you can usually do so in the same settings menu where you found it. Turning it off will use more battery but will restore full background activity to all your apps. Some people turn it off during the day when they are near a charger, then turn it back on at night to preserve battery while they sleep.

How Time Boost Close relates to other battery-saving features

Time Boost Close works alongside other power-saving tools on your phone. Low Power Mode (on iPhones) or Battery Saver (on Android) is a separate, more aggressive setting that you turn on manually when your battery is low. That setting reduces performance, limits background activity even more, and disables some features entirely. Time Boost Close runs all the time in the background, making smaller, automatic adjustments based on your usage patterns.

You can have both running at the same time. Time Boost Close handles the day-to-day sorting of apps. Low Power Mode or Battery Saver kicks in when you need emergency battery conservation. They do not conflict — they work together to keep your phone running longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Time Boost Close stop me from getting important notifications?

It depends on the app. Apps you use frequently usually stay unrestricted and send notifications normally. Apps you rarely open may be delayed. If an app is important — like banking, health, or work apps — you can manually move it to an unrestricted category so it sends notifications right away.

Does turning off Time Boost Close drain my battery faster?

Yes. Without it, all your apps can run in the background constantly, which uses more power. The exact difference depends on how many apps you have and what they do, but most people notice a measurable battery drain within a few hours.

Can I restrict some apps but not others?

Yes. Most phones let you manually choose which apps go into which restriction category. You can keep messaging and calendar apps unrestricted while restricting games and news apps. Check your phone's battery settings to see the list of apps and their current categories.

What happens to my data if an app is restricted?

Restricted apps do not collect or send data while your screen is off. When you open the app again, it will update and catch up. This is actually a privacy benefit — restricted apps cannot track your location or monitor your activity in the background.

Is Time Boost Close the same thing as closing apps in the background?

No. Manually closing apps in your recent apps list is temporary — they start running again soon. Time Boost Close is a permanent, automatic system that your phone manages. It is more effective because it works continuously without you having to do anything.